Getting into rifle reloading with friends and looking for rifle reloading dies for 30-06, 7.62x39, 30-30, 45-70, etc. Would like to get a good quality reloading dies because looks like that those dies will be used a lot, so 10-20 bucks more per set isn’t issue.

Which ones are you would recommend? Thanks.

I like Lee's Delux set with both a full length sizing die and the collet neck sizing die. I used to use RCBS, but like the Lee better. The Collet neck sizing die works with no lubrication which is a plus along with extending case life considerably.

I always full length resize new or old cases fired in a different gun than mine, then just neck size after that.

You will end up with a mix of dies. As a general rule I like Redding dies and usually get a full set (FL Neck Seat) for all my rifle cartridges. Lee has some excellent product offerings that you can't beat for the money, namely the Lee Collet Neck Dies and the Lee Factory Crimp Dies. I use a Redding Taper crimp die on my 45-70 and prefer it over the Lee Factory Crimp Die. I also have Herter's, Forster, and Hornady New Dimension dies as well as a set of Vickerman dies for the 300 WM. The Vickerman dies are probably the most precisely machined dies I own. I have no RCBS or Lyman dies but have been considering the Lyman M-Expander Die for the 45-70. Nothing against RCBS or Lyman, just don't own any.

One thing I think is, you are better off with a shell holder from the same manufacturer as the dies. No quantitative evidence to support this but I just seem to get better results when I match shell holder to die manufacturer.

I like Lee's Delux set with both a full length sizing die and the collet neck sizing die. I used to use RCBS, but like the Lee better. The Collet neck sizing die works with no lubrication which is a plus along with extending case life considerably.

I always full length resize new or old cases fired in a different gun than mine, then just neck size after that.
I think the Lee suggestion here is excellent advice, especially when you add their factory crimp die.

I like the lock rings on Hornady but tend to buy pretty much Lee exclusively because of the great value and wide utility of their sets.

There is customer service, and then there is RCBS customer service. There is a difference, and thats why many buy RCBS products. Call them up and see.
Jim

It is getting to be a little like buying a rifle in regard to quality. You buy them and finish what they have not!
I have had good and bad experince with all manufacturers noted.
Good luck to you,
Cheezywan

Hello,
I have used about a dozen different makes of dies;from inexpensive Herter's ,Wells and Lee,on up to RCBS and Redding.All of them can be recommended except for the Honady New Dimention dies.I dislike them.
Now,i buy RCBS,mostly.They never disappoint,and have the best warrentee.
Frank

Not too fond of the Hornady New dimention dies either; it's that decapping stem set up that seems to bother most of us.

OF the others makes, I haven't bought a "bad" set of dies n a long long while.Use to be some off brands (and some the the big name brands as well) that were made badly....it's been years.

Hate to gures which would last longer than the others...dies generally get abraded to death by brass that isn't clean. Doesn't have to be polished, just get the grit off of it before trying to resize it.

I should use Hornady or RCBS dies... They have work very nice and I reloading both handguns to rifles.

/ MrHunter

REDDING get the best!

My die shelf is a mixture of all the brands.

Lee collet dies can give you fits until you learn how to use them.

RCBS has one of the best customer services going. Always willing to answer any question, will ship replacement parts at no cost. They are great, in my book

I started with RCBS, but bought a set of Hornady New Dimension dies out of curiosity. The only problem I had was the decapping spindle slipping on some nickel .30-06 cases. Inside neck lubing and more torque fixed that, and I see that Hornady is coming out with a fix.
http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=211

Later I had to replace my pre-carbide pistol sizer dies, thanks to nickel cases, and at that time a whole Hornady die set cost the same as an RCBS sizer. International prices can be puzzling. The Hornady neck expander die is no substitute for a Lyman M-die, but the sizer and seater work well. The M-Die is highly recommended for cast bullets and the other kind too.

A old but NIB set of Pacific Durachrome dies came next. They're the nicest dies I've got. Last, a set of CH-4D dies, with the wrong seater. CH-4D set me two seaters, for different ogives. Nice dies too.

Bye
Jack

I use Redding, RCBS, Hornady, and have been trying some Lee dies lately. I can't find fault with any of them. The decapping spindle on the Hornady dies turned me off to them several years ago but I've recently been using them for 4 different cartridges and don't have any complaints. I think Hornady's bullet seating die is the better of the bunch as far as "standard" die sets go. You want the dies with best internal finish get some Redding dies, they are like a mirror inside...but they do cost a bit more than the others.

The great thing about the chamberings you list is that they are so common you won't have to pay extra, as is often the case with less common chamberings when you go with the higher priced dies.

I've got mostly RCBS with some Lee crimp dies. They work very well for me, but I only reload 4 different calibers.

My collection of dies looks like the whose who of reloading equipment that has been collected over the past 50 some years , first by my Dad and then by me when I got big enough to be trusted to load by myself when I was 12 or 13.

Redding, Bonanza/Forster, Lyman, RCBS. Herters, Lee, just to name a few, well :rolleyes: that's all of the brands I own. I've come to the conclusion that the Lee stuff esp. their collet dies and carbide pistol dies are about as good as it gets.

Lee's customer service is top notch imo. Had a decapping pin break off (100% my fault) on a set of 22-250 dies and called them to see what it would take to get a new one. Snivelled a little and said I needed to get some shells loaded to go p. dog hunting and the nice lady on the other end said they would mail me a new one that day. got it 3 days later. Their delux rifle dies are great. They will make you a custom collet die if you send them a spent cartridge and $50. I really want to get one for my 300RUM and 35 Whelen. Already have them for 222, 223, 30-06, 7 mag and 308

I'm not going to say anything bad about the other brands except that they cost more than the Lees. I haven't had any problems with them either except a couple broken decapping pins with the RCBS dies.

My Bonanza Benchrest dies for the .222 were worth every penny. As for the rest of the brands? The only complaint is about Herters dies because they are kinda tuff to get parts for so I don't use them much anymore. I replaced them with Lee's stuff. And no I didn't theow them out. I don't know when Herters went out of buisness but it's been a while.

As you can tell by this post I realy don't have a real "favorite" brand but I'd edge towards Lee stuff.

As for a press? I'd get me a Forster Co-ax. No wasted time spent screwnig dies in and out. What pain in the @55 that is!

I also have a pretty good selection of dies. Most of my bottle necked rifle dies are RCBS and anything I load in the Dillon 550B are Dillon with the addition of a Lee FCD (at this time it's .45 ACP and .40 S&W). Since becoming interested in the 45-70, my taste has changed and my most recently purchased dies have been Lee. I now have a 4 die lee set for the 45-70, .45 Long Colt, and three die set of Lee dies for the .454 Casull with the addition of a Redding Profile Crimp Die.

I also have a pretty good selection of dies. Most of my bottle necked rifle dies are RCBS and anything I load in the Dillon 550B are Dillon with the addition of a Lee FCD (at this time it's .45 ACP and .40 S&W). Since becoming interested in the 45-70, my taste has changed and my most recently purchased dies have been Lee. I now have a 4 die lee set for the 45-70, .45 Long Colt, and three die set of Lee dies for the .454 Casull with the addition of a Redding Profile Crimp Die.

The Redding Profile Crimp Die is a great addition to your die set for the 45-70. I like it much better than the LEE Factory Crimp Die and wish I could get one for every cartridge I load.

I use Lee, one set of Lyman and the rest are RCBS. You can't go wrong with any of them. I really like RCBS lock rings, especially for their brass set screw. Great idea. Their neck sizer die is good.
Lee's Collet Dies and Factory Crimp Dies are great. very easy on brass and if you begin loading some of the more expensive stuff or hit a spot sometime where you can't afford a lot of new brass, good brass life is really welcome. I like Lee's decapping pins better than RCBS. One piece, simple, strong, less prone to break and not another piece to have to purchase and have extras of. Easier to get though than a new mandrel for the Lee dies though as you probably have to call Lee Precision directly but they will send you a replacement, usually for nothing.
The Lyman dies are solid, good, no nonsense. A lot like the RCBS.

I think I might order new RCBS lock-rings for my Lee dies and swap them all when I'm rich and famous. That would make them just about perfect. If I could only talk Lee into making me a collet die for .416 Rigby... :|